It's so weird as this is a male friend doing this. I replied to his messages (when he got in touch first) about work stuff because he has a sorta influential position locally with jobs and this guy in the last month takes a full day to respond and even open the message. I know he isn't as busy as he is making out after things he told me before this happened how he doesn't do much each day etc and isn't ever that busy at work.

I don't even want to reply to his last msg and have been seeing strange red flags for a mate in the last few months so want to get out. It's like he feels he is above me and wants control over me or something and he said months ago how I have something about me that attracts people, which is weird looking back at it.

I have just left him on "read" an hour ago but I don't want him holding a grudge for the future so feel like I should say something to end it nicely. Have any of yous had mates do this before? How do I end it so he doesn't come back but also doesn't feel aggrieved and fck up work/education opportunities for me in the future?